For an observer standing on the Earth's physical equator, where does the celestial equator appear?
Answer
Crossing the zenith directly overhead.
The apparent position of the celestial equator is rigidly linked to the physical orientation of the observer on Earth. For an individual located exactly on the Earth's physical equator, the projection of that equator onto the sky—the celestial equator—will pass directly overhead. This means the celestial equator crosses the zenith, which is defined as the point in the sky directly above the observer's head. This contrasts sharply with an observer situated at the North Pole, where the celestial equator would appear to lie entirely flat along the horizon.
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